Imagine that researchers from AUT University are considering examining coping and adjustment processes of children living in situations of war.
Their proposed study aims to understand the effects of political violence by interviewing Palestinian children living on the West Bank (the border between Palestine and Israel). If the study were to go ahead, invaluable insight could be gained to develop a counselling programme specifically catering to the psychological issues of war-affected refugee children in New Zealand.
However, in Palestine it is not unusual for political spies to pose as journalists or researchers in hopes of gathering information which can result in torture, home invasion and imprisonment. Due to this, potential research participants and their families will be very wary of any participation in research.
Ethical and logistical issues surrounding informed voluntary consent, confidentiality, cultural awareness and issues around using vulnerable populations need to be thoroughly examined. Suppose that you are on the Auckland University of Technology Ethics Committee (AUTEC) which will decide whether to grant ethical approval for this study.
As you deliberate this case, consider the principles of ethical review that AUTEC choose to focus on; participation, protection and participation.
You can read more about these in the Week 9 material.
Acknowledgment goes to Catherine, a former PPE student who provided this case for deliberation.
It is proposed that you should support the approval of this study.